[senco-forum] CATS online ( a bit long sorry)

We have for the first time this year run CATs online, (we did the online
reading test from testwise for the first time last year) we paid for a site
licence for both  as we have just under 200 pupils in our year 7, and it
worked out more cost effective than paying per pupil.
It was easy to set up using a csv file and imported it into the database (if
you have the online reading test too it works for both) it tells you the
information you need to enter in the instructions and you also get the
option to enter each pupil individually ( i wouldn't recommend it takes
hours!) but its handy to have if you have to add a new pupil after the
original intake.
You then assign each of the three tests to each pupil and you can chose the
order in which they are completed and whether they get access to all three
tests at the same time or separately. Each test takes about an hour to
administer with each sub test having the same as the paper versions. the
programme uses a flash player and is clear to read and follow. There is no
differentiation for SEN pupils but ours coped well with the tests.The tests
were carried out over three ICT lessons in the first half term this year
with the SEN department doing the organising and catching up of the missed
pupils. We found that the tests worked fairly well but we did have teething
troubles. It didn't like one of the ICT suites we have in school but worked
fine in the other two.
i would suggest you try it out on all the machines you plan to use the test
on first to make sure that the system works although they do have technical
support and send you a questionnaire to see if you need to update anything,
also make sure you don't have pop up blockers on. when the test is completed
you have to make sure the pupils actually log out of the site otherwise
sometimes the results get lost in the system not sure why but its worth
making sure they follow the instructions at the end of the test.
The results you can download are the same as the ones you would get if you
sent off the paper versions to be marked. and you can have them in CSV
format or PDF and once sent you can access them pretty quickly depending on
how many pupils you have in your report .... a couple of minutes if you only
want one or two and  less than an hour for a year group (depending on the
time of year and how many other people are doing this at the same time)
the pro's its quick, easy enough to administer and the speed you can access
the results are impressive, and the support from testwise is very good.
The con's it takes three ICT lessons, or you need an ICT suite for 3 lessons
per group ... can cause trouble with the rest of the staff if you take up
residence in the ICT rooms. You need someone who is ICT literate to run the
sessions just in case there are hiccups, but most things are easy to sort.
(the biggest problem we had was that the systems cyber patrol blocked it as
it didn't recognise the website at the start of the year because we'd
upgraded the system over the summer holidays)
I would recommend it just be prepared to take the time to get to know it
first before the pupils are let loose on it. We set the staff who are going
to use up with a copy of the tests first and let them run through it to make
sure that they were familiar with it and it didn't come up with any
unexpected problems when the pupils were taking the test.

Lesley